Venetian blind or the like



Aug. 17, 1937. Rl C. MERCE 2,090,145

VENETIAN BLIND OR THE LIKE Filed Feb. 5, 1936 Rosem- CTP/epee ,4 7+ 1T 5. E B Y A TTOR/V E 5 Patented ug. 17, 1937 UNITED sTATEs PATENT oFFlcE 2,090,145 vENETrAN am on. 'ma una 'Robert C. Pierce, Mies, Mich., assigner'4 to National Standard Company. Niles, Mich., a corporation of Michigan A Application February 5, 1938, Serial No. 62,405

Claims. (Cl. 156-17) framework, which I prefer to be in the form of l0 a resilient spring, expanded to provide relative# ly large openings between the wires 'with sheets of relatively thin material overlying one or both sides of the braid. Alternatively two suchframeworks may be arranged. with the sheet material between them. The edges of the slat are bound by metal channel members which serve both to hold the sheets on the wire framework and to hold the wires rigidly in place.

The appearance of the slat may be made more pleasing by pressing the sheets against the framework whereby the wires will be pressed into the sheets. This creates a series of ridges on the outer surface of the sheets presenting a very pleasing appearance and serves alsov to hold the wires against shifting.

One objection to Venetian blinds where used on the inside of a window has been that they absorb heat from the sunlight and transmit such heat to the room. According to one feature of the present invention this objection is overcome f by forming the sheets of light reflecting material such as aluminum or other metal foil so that light or heat rays striking the blind will 'be reflected back out the window and will not be transmitted tothe room. t

For passage of the usual cords, the slats are preferably provided with eyelets extending through the sheets and the framework and having flanged portions pressed against the sheets and the framework.

Other objects, advantages and novel features will be apparent from the following description when read in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a side view with parts broken away of va slat embodying the invention;

Figures 2 and 3 are sections on the line 2-2 and 3 3 respectivelyiof Figure 1;

Figures 4 and 5 are sections similar to Figures 50 2 and 3 of a modified construction;

Figure 6 is a partial side view, corresponding to Figure l, showing a modified arrangement;

Figure 7 is a partial section halfway therethrough, on .the line 1--1 of Figure 6; and

Figure 8 is a partial View corresponding to in holding the wires against shifting.

Figures 1 and 6, butl showing a diiierent modification. l

The slat of Figures 1 to 3 comprises a framework` I0 o f wire, preferably braided, each wire extending throughout the length of the framework and being carried alternately over and under the other wires. The braid is expanded as shown in Figure 1 to provide relatively large openings between the wires, preferably in the manner described in my application No. 41,199,

vfiled September 19, 1935, of which the present 'application is a partial continuation.

In expanding the braid the bends of the wire at the edges of the slat are pressed beyond their elastic limit, so that' a resilient expanded structure is produced which has the characteristics of a spring in resisting forces crosswise of its plane, and which does not have any tendency to return to its original width.` The wire of which the braid is' formed may be a cold'drawn steel spring wire, coated with a corrosion-resisting-plating.

The opposite sides of the braid are covered by sheets of water-proofed cardboard or metal foil I2 which are preferably pressed tightly against the braid so that the wires will be pressed into the sheets to produce a-pleasing design on the sheets, as shown in Figure 1, as well as to as't e sheets l2 are preferably formed of aluminum foil which is light and extremely resistant to corrosion and which also forms a good light reect'- ing medium to reduce heat absorption, although sheets formed of other material might be used if desired. v

'I'he edges of the braid ill arebound by. sheet metal binders M crimped over the edges of the sheets I2 and the braid. Similar binders I6 are' preferably crimped on the ends of the slats. The binders serve not only to hold the sheets I2 in place on the braid, but also to grip the wires of the braid at the edges to prevent shifting there` of. Thus a very rigid construction is produced.

In order to provide for passage of the usual operating cords, holes I8 are punched through the sheets and the framework and eyelets 20 are inserted therein. A washer 22 may be placed around the eyelet shank which may then be turned down as shown at 24 to hold the eyelet rigidly in place and to press against the sheets I2 and the braid l0. In this way the eyelets provide a further reinforcement for the sheets and thebraid and serveto hold the loose ends of any wires which'are cut during punching of the ment and for the sake of brevity of description parts therein corresponding to like parts in Figures 1 to 3 have been designated by the same reference numbers. The construction of Figures 4 and 5 is substantially identical with that of the preceding figures except that a sheet of metal foil l2 has been provided on' only one instead of both sides of the braid l0. Y

Figures 6 and 'l show another modification in 10 which a sheet H2 of waterproofed cardboard or foil is embraced between two sheets I I0 of screen or woven wire cloth, which produces a pleasing design outlined against the sheet H2.

In Figure 8, the screen or wire cloth 2H) is embraced between two sheets 2I2 of foil or cardboard. l l

It will be seen that the slat of the present invention is extremely light and strong and is relatively inexpensive to make. It is well adapted for installation either outside or inside a window and in the latter case possesses theA additional advantage of reflecting light and heat back out the window to reduce the heat absorbed inthe room.

While several embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, it will be apparent that many changes might kbe made therein and it is not intended that the scope of the invention shall be limited to the forms shown or otherwise than by the terms of the appended i claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A slat for a Venetian blind or the like comprising a metallic framework formed with spaced strands providing relatively large interstices therebetween, a sheet of relatively thin material 3. A slat for a Venetian blind or the like comprising a metallic lframework formed with spaced strands providing relatively large interstices therebetween, sheets of relatively thin/metal foil overlying said framework on opposite sides thereof, and binding means engaging each of said sheets and the edges of the framework to hold the parts in assembled-relation, and eyelets extending through the sheets and the framework and having portions overlying the sheets.

4'. A slat for a Venetian blind or the like comprising a set of wires formed as a braid with relatively large intermediate spaces, a sheet of relatively thin material overlying said braid, and

binding means along the edges of the braid to hold said sheet on the braid and to hold the wires rigidly in place.

5. A slat for a Venetian blindl or the like comprising a set of wires formedas a braid with relatively large intermediate spaces, a sheet of metal foil overlying said braid and pressedtightly thereagainst whereby the wires ofthe braid will be pressed into the foil, and binding means along the edges of the braid to hold said sheet on the braid and to hold the wires rigidly in place.

6. A slat for a Venetian blind or the like comprising a set of wires formed as a braid with relatively large intermediate spaces, sheets of metal foil overlying opposite sides of the braid and pressed tightlythereagainst whereby the wires of the braid will be pressed into the foil, and binding means'along the edges of the braid to hold the sheets on lthe braid and to hold the wires rigidly in place.

7. A slat for a Venetian blind or the like comprising a set of wires formed as a braid with relatively large intermediate spaces, sheets oi' metal foil overlying opposite sides of the braid and pressed tightly thereagainst whereby the wires of the braid will be pressed into the foil,-

and binding means along the edges of the braid to hold the sheets on the braid and to hold the wires rigidly in place, and eyelets extending through the sheets and the braid and having intermediate spaces and compressed beyond the elastic limit of the steel at the bends of the Wire Valong the edges of the braid when expanded, to

set the wire at said bends and form a flat resilient spring of the braid, a sheet of relatively thin material overlying said braid and bridging across said spaces, and binding means along the edges of the slat to hold the edges `of said sheet and of the braid,

' 9. A slat for a Venetian blind or the like comprising a braid including a set of interbraided wires of spring steel expanded to provide relatively large intermediate spaces and compressed beyond the elastic limit of the steel at the bends of the Wire along the edges,of the braid when expanded, to set the wire at said bends and form a fiat resilient spring of the braid, covering material associated with said braid and bridging across said spaces, and binding means along the edges of the slat.

10. A slat for a -Venetian blind or the like coml prising two wire frameworks'having a sheet of relatively thin material between them and the pattern of which is outlined on said sheet, and

ROBERT C. PIERCE. 

